June 18, 2018

Marvelous week with some plot twists :)

Hola mis queridos!

Os quiero mucho y espero que estéis bien!

Miracle. Virginia.

Tuesday an old investigator called us out of the blue and said she wanted to meet. We had time that night before our weekly noche de barrio and so we sat down with her and the spirit was so beautiful and it brought Virginia to really understand what she can do to progress. She didn´t want to set a date, but she is really moving along wonderfully. She has been reading and praying and Sunday morning, after every single one of our other investigators fired on us for coming to church, she showed up and we were so thrilled. The ward was so warm and loving and she received several invitations to Family Home Evenings and it was marvelous. She loved it, even though the AC in the chapel isn´t functioning and it gets really hot really fast.

Another miracle: SHIRLEY!

My companion and I have been fasting and praying and working with all our might so that God, if it is his will, will allow us to see a baptism this transfer. (It´s kind of ironic, because 4 of our street contacts that live in the Elders area are going to be baptized these next two weeks. God has really led us in our finding efforts!) But in one particular circumstance that is quite complicated to explain, Shirley, Rita´s granddaughter, has been wanting to be baptized for a long time. And though her parents live in the Elder´s area of the other ward, we see her everytime we visit Rita and have the hermanas have taught her all the lessons through the course of almost a year. And well, happy news is that SHE FINALLY CAN BE BAPTIZED! She now has the courage and the testimony and the support of the ward and her Grandma (Rita--who will be baptized as soon as her situation permits) to talk to her parents! She turns 10 on monday and will be baptized Saturday or Sunday! She is remarkable and so mature. She knew every detail as we repassed the baptismal interview.

Zone conference this week was inspiring. All of the teachings really helped strengethen and inspire me. President Dayton taught on faith and diligent. He told of his dad on the farm and how he and his brothers would pray for rain so they could take a break, but then dad would come down in the pick up truck take them to the field and make them pick up rocks. That endurance and hard work carried him through his surgical residency and has really inspired me in my take on life and missionary work. Their is no excuse for wasted time and no better way to find joy than working good and hard. We have really been working as a companionship to squeeze everything we can out of the little time we are given and we have seen amazing miracles from it. (Contacting waiting for an investigator and WE were contacted by a girl we had given a book of mormon to a few weeks ago in the street, but didn´t show up to come to church. She excitedly told us she is reading and told her friends to read it too! We will meet with them tonight.)

Jaz was busy this week, but this week is the week. I feel it ;)

Alonso is still there and working hard too :)

I love being a missionary, and I am so grateful for the Gospel and how the atonement of Jesus Christ has truly shaped me, especially as a missionary. I know He lives and He is the ONLY way back and the ONLY way to find true joy. So find the Joy for yourself by reading the Book of Mormon and sharing it with your friend and tell me how it goes!!

Love you all!

Hermana Read